Game apparatus.



No. 637,549. Patented Nov. '21, I899. F. J. ENGEL &c. F. HIRTH.

GAME APPARATUS.

(Application filed May 16, 1899.) (No Model.)

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PATENT GFFICE.

FRANKLIN J. ENGEL AND CHRIST F. HIRTH, OF MAYVILLE, VVI SOONSIN.

GAM E APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,549, dated November 21, 1899. Application filed May16,1899. Serial No. 717,074. (110 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANKLIN J. ENGEL and CHRIST F. HIRTH, citizens of the United States, residing at Mayville, in the county of Dodge and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to game apparatus, particularly to such devices for playing a parlor game of base-ball, and has for its object to provide a simple and improved device adapted to reproduce the various plays made upon the regular base-ball field.

To these ends the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of the improved game apparatus. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional viewthereof on the line w as, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the construction and manner of mounting the mechanical bat.

Corresponding parts are designated by like reference characters in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the field of the device is formed by means of a board or base 1, which is surrounded by a marginal upstanding flange 2, designed to represent the usual fence inclosing a regular baseball field and adapted to confine the ball to the field. The upper face of the base or board 1 is covered with a cloth 3 to deaden the noise of the ball and is provided with a colored diamond-shaped figure 4 to represent the usual diamond of the regular base-ball field. The positions of the out-field and the infield-are designated by openings A, formed through the cloth and the board 1 and marked, as shown, to indicate the several players. The position of the catcher is indicated by means of an elongated opening 5, formed through the board 1 in rear of the home-base 6 and extends longitudinally of the field.

A mechanical bat apparatus is provided, as best shown in Fig. 4 of thedrawings, and comprises a bat 7, mounted at one end upon a pivot 8, located at either side of the homebetween the head 11 thereof and the upper side of the bat. It will be noted that the sides of the loop 10 embrace the respective upper and lower sides of the bat, and the free end of the loop engages against the rear side of the bat, near the free end thereof, so that when the bat is pulled back upon its pivot a tension is provided upon the spring-loop for the purpose of throwing the bat forward in imitation of the action of the usual batter when the bat 7 is released. A suitable stop 12 is provided in rear of the pivot-pin 8, so as to limit the backward movement of the bat. By reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be noted that the free end of the bat is adapted to move across the opening 5, which represents' the catcher, so that if the bat is not released in time the ball delivered by the pitcher is adapted to be received within the said opening 5, and thereby count as a strike against the batter.

Intermediate of the home-base and the first and third bases, respectively, are provided stop-shoulders 18, extending from the opposite longitudinal sides of the marginal flange 2 to within a suitable distance of the homebase, so as to mark the foul lines and prevent a foul ball from entering the diamond.

The pitching apparatus comprises an in clined plane 14, formed from a single length of spring-wire bent intermediate of its ends into asubstantially U -shaped loop,having the ends thereof embedded in the board 1 at the center of the diamond, and the opposite end of the loop inclined upwardly and longitudinally away from the home-base.

Extending transversely across the field are two parallel lines 15 and 16, respectively, the inner line 15 extending through the approximate position of the second base, and the outer line 16 extending through the approximate positions of the right and left fielders. The purpose of these lines is to divide the field into sections, so as to vary the value of a hit. A hit which does not pass the inner line credits the batter with a one-base hit. If the ball stops between the two lines, it is a two-base hit, and if it goes beyond the outer line 16 the batter is entitled to a three-base hit. Should the ball jump over the centerfield fence, (designatedby the end marginal flange 17), a home-run is credited to the batter.

In playing the game a marble 20 is used as the ball, and suitable disks or blocks 19 are employed to designate the position of the runners. The game is adapted to be played by two persons, one operating the bat and the other delivering the ball to the bat. In delivering the ball the same is placed upon the elevated end of the inclined plane 14 and when released will run down to the bat, and as the latter is released the ball is struck by the bat and knocked out into the field. If the ball rolls into any of the holes designating the several fielders, the batter is out; but if the ball comes to rest without entering one of the holes the batter is entitled to a safe hit of a value according to the position the ball occupies, as hereinbefore described.

By reason of the fact that the pitching apparatus is formed from a loop of spring-wire the same may be forced to either side, so as to vary the direction of the ball delivered to the bat, and also the free end of the loop may be depressed or elevated, as desired, so as to vary the speed with which the ball is delivered.

It will thus be seen that a simple and practical apparatus is provided for playing a parlor game of base-ball which is especially adapted for reproducing the various plays made upon the regular field, and the usual base-ball rules maybe efieetively employed to govern the playing of the present indoor game.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claim may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What we claim is- In a game apparatus of the class described, the combination with a board representing a base-ball field, of a mechanically-operated bat supported thereon, and a pitching apparatus consisting of an incline fitted to the board and adapted to deliver a ball to the bat, said. incline being of spring material and having one end fastened to the board, the opposite end being left free and capable of being deflected upward or downward to vary the speed of delivery of the ball, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed oursignatures in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANKLIN J. ENGEL. CHRIST F. IIIRTII.

Witnesses:

R0121. WEsTERnoLr, II. DEGNER. 

